Infamous Stringdusters

Photo: Jason Siegel Photography

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The Infamous Stringdusters are an acoustic/bluegrass band. The band emerged in 2007 with the acclaimed album Fork in the Road on Sugar Hill Records. The band's current line-up features Andy Hall (Dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), and Travis Book (double bass).^[1] The band has become known for a complex, distinctive, and groove-friendly sound along with a bluegrass theme.^[2] Falco is the newest permanent member, filling the role vacated by guitarist Chris Eldridge (son of Ben Eldridge and later a touring partner with Chris Thile). Jesse Cobb (mandolin) announced his departure Oct 5, 2011; Dominick Leslie was announced as the mandolin player for the tour that followed but the band has not replaced Cobb and is now touring and recording as a five-piece ensemble.

The Infamous Stringdusters won three awards at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards Ceremony in October 2007: Emerging Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Fork in the Road (in a tie with J.D. Crowe & the New South's album Lefty's Old Guitar), and Song of the Year for the album's title cut.^[3] The band was also nominated for 2011 Entertainer of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.^[4]

Their "Magic No. 9" (from Things That Fly) was nominated for a 2011 Grammy award for "Best Country Instrumental".

Formation

The creation of the Infamous Stringdusters is first based on the relationships that banjo player Chris Pandolfi, dobro player Andy Hall, and former guitarist Chris Eldridge formed while in Boston, Massachusetts. Hall, Pandolfi and Eldridge were students at Berklee College of Music.^[5] Pandolfi and Eldridge soon followed Andy Hall to Nashville, Tennessee, where they met Hall's Ronnie Bowman Committee bandmates Jesse Cobb (mandolin) and Jeremy Garrett (fiddle). The group then held an audition for a possible bassist in the fall of 2005, where they found Travis Book. Book had been residing in Durango, Colorado. Eldridge soon departed in 2007 to join Thile's Punch Brothers and was replaced by guitarist Andy Falco.^[5] In October 2011, Jesse Cobb announced his departure from the group. Cobb cited mental and physical stress as the reason for his leaving days before the release of We'll Do It Live.^[6]

Albums

Fork in the Road

Fork in the Road is the first studio album released by the Stringdusters. The record launched on February 13, 2007 under the label of Sugar Hill Records.^[7] The album was recorded over a time span of six months, with each member bringing their own work to the studio to record.^[5]

The Infamous Stringdusters

The Infamous Stringdusters is the second studio album created by the Stringdusters. It was released on June 10, 2008 under the Sugar Hill Records label.^[8] Each track on the release, such as "Well, Well" and "You Can't Handle The Truth," features vocals by the song's own creator.^[9] The album peaked at number one on the Billboard Bluegrass chart, and number 62 on the Billboard Country chart following its release.^[10] The producers of the record also included musician Tim O'Brien, who also briefly appeared on the album.^[5]

Things that Fly

Things that Fly is the third studio cut released by the band under the Sugar Hill Records label. The record was released on April 20, 2010.^[11] Things That Fly has been described as another example of the band's ever-evolving sound and a showcase of each member's individual talents through tracks such as "All The Same," "Those Who've Gone On," and "The Deputy.^[12] The album includes a bluegrass remake of the U2 single "In God's Country" and peaked to number two on Billboard's Bluegrass chart.

We'll Do It Live

We'll Do It Live is the first live recording album by the Infamous Stringdusters. The album was released on October 11, 2011 and was the first release on the High Country Recordings label by the band. The album features live selections from shows in Charlottesville, Virginia, Burlington, Vermont, New York, New York, and Falls Church, Virginia during April and May 2011.^[13] Producers on the album included Executive Producer Michael Allenby, Drew Becker, and the Infamous Stringdusters.^[13]

Silver Sky

Silver Sky is the fourth studio album produced by the Stringdusters and was released on March 13, 2012, under the High Country Recordings label.^[14] The album was produced with the help of music producer Billy Hume, who is better known for his work in hip-hop with artists such as David Banner, Nas, and Ludacris.^[15] A pledge campaign provided the main funding for the album release and following tour, with incentives given to donors such as song dedications and signed memorabilia. A "Deluxe Edition" was released in Oct. 2012, with an extra CD of live concert recordings. ^[16]

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

• "I'll Get Away" (2014)^[17]

Music videos

Live performances

Live performances have become the main focus of the band. The Infamous Stringdusters focus their recording on how their tracks will play live, with audience interaction.^[21] During live shows, the Stringdusters are known to take to their Jam Band roots and visit long improvisational and instrumental sets.^[22] The band uses these long, improvisations to showcase every member's individual talents, through solo performances or other methods. The band has also included blueberry pie eating contests during live performances, claiming it enhances their blues sound.^[23] While touring, the band has shared the stage with artists such as Del McCoury, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sam Bush, David Grisman, Tim O'Brien, the Emmitt-Nershi Band, Railroad Earth, and Tea Leaf Green.^[24] Venues where the band has appeared include Red Rocks Amphitheatre and the Best Buy Theater.^[24]

The Festy Experience

Annually, the Infamous Stringdusters help produce The Festy Experience, a three day music festival that takes place in Central Virginia.^[2] Since its inception in 2010, The Festy Experience has been held in Nelson County, Virginia.^[25] The main goal of the festival is to display a wide variety of musical genres, instead of focusing exclusively on bluegrass.^[25]

Reception

Throughout the Stringdusters' years touring, the group has been described as "a future supergroup," "phenomenon," "intricately improvisational," and "flawless" by bluegrass critics. The band's music is described by many to walk the fine line between soft traditional folk and bluegrass songwriting and resilient jamming.^[26] Among all of the group's released recordings, The Infamous Stringdusters and Things That Fly have been the most critically acclaimed. At the end of 2011, the Stringdusters were named one of the top-trending bands of the year, just behind the Foo Fighters, The Wood Brothers, and B.B. King.^[27]

References

External links

• Official website
• Infamous Stringdusters at AllMusic
• Infamous Stringdusters collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive